By the late 14th Century the once mighty Byzantine Empire had been reduced to little more than the city of Constantinople itself. In 1391 the Sultan Bayazid I `The Lightning` besieged the city. In response to a crusade preached by Pope Boniface IX a French-led army of 10,000 marched to the relief of Constantinople. At Nicopolis on the Danube they met the Ottoman army in Battle. Ignoring the advice of their Hungarian and Transylvanian allies the Crusaders charged the Turks and were in turn smashed by the Ottoman heavy cavalry. The last Crusade ended on the banks of the Danube as the Crusaders desperately sought to escape from the pursuing Turks.